Despite Leads, Murders of Three Female Runners Remain Unsolved

Between July 30 and August 7, in what appear to be unrelated incidents, three female runners were murdered, setting off a wide-ranging conversation on social media and in the running community. More than a month later, police have some leads but all three crimes remain unsolved. Here are the latest updates:

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Karina Vetrano At about 5pm on August 2, Karina Vetrano, 30, was raped and killed on a trail in Spring Creek Park in Queens, New York.

Earlier this week, the New York Police Department (NYPD) released surveillance video of Karina Vetrano running, captured shortly before her attack, with the hope it would result in people coming forward with new information.

On August 31, police released the sketch of a man they believe may have witnessed Vetrano’s murder, who they would like to bring in for questioning. Investigators have developed a DNA profile for Vetrano’s murderer, but have not found a match in local or national databases.

The reward for information leading to Vetrano’s killer has reached more than $300,000. A GoFundMe account established by Vetrano’s family has raised more than $277,000, while the NYPD and mayor’s office are offering $35,000.

Vanessa Marcotte On August 7, New York City resident Vanessa Marcotte, 27, was killed while running in the woods near her mother’s home in Princeton, Massachusetts.

Shortly after, the Worcester County District Attorney’s office released a statement indicating that they believed there was a struggle between Marcotte and her assailant. They urged anyone who has seen a male with fresh scratches, scrapes, or bruises to come forward.

A statement released by the DA’s office indicated that they have received more than 1,000 tips and they are “working hard to find justice for Ms. Marcotte and her family.”

Meanwhile, the Telegram & Gazette reports that local residents have seen an increase in the number of people getting dogs, carrying pepper spray, and carrying firearms.

Alexandra Brueger On the afternoon of July 30, Alexandra “Ally” Brueger, 31, was shot four times in the back while running in Michigan’s Rose Township, 50 miles northwest of Detroit.

Investigators in Michigan are asking for information from anyone who might have seen a white or light-colored four door sedan on Fish Lake Road around the time of Brueger’s murder. They are also asking for tips regarding anyone who has been acting out of character since the incident.

State Police Lieutenant Michael Shaw told Runner’s World by phone that he doesn’t think Brueger’s unsolved murder means local runners are at a greater risk than usual.

“This wasn’t a running issue. This was a homicide that was tied to the victim but not necessarily [to] running,” Shaw said. “We always tell people to be vigilant when they’re out there anywhere, to be careful and pay attention to their surroundings.”

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